Rotary extractor



Jan. 2, 1951 w. R. HOFMANN 2,536,935

I ROTARY EXTRACTOR I Filed May 9, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 MM 2. HOFMA/VA/ //V V 702 H 5/ w Jan. 2, 1951 w. R'HOFMANN 2,536,935

' ROTARY EXTRACTOR Filed May 9, 1947 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 2, 1951 w. HOFMANN 2,536,935

ROTARY EXTRACTOR Filed May 9, 1947 e Shets-Sheet 3 WfP/VEP 2 HOFMA/V/V nvvavrae Jan. 2,1951 w. R. HOFMANN 2,536,935

ROTARY EXTRACTOR Filed May 9, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. R. HOFMANN ROTARY EXTRACTOR Jan. 2, 1951' 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 9, 1947 W A W a H e m N a. W

JamZ, 1951 I V LR.YHOFMANN 2,53 ,935

ROTARY EXTRACTOR Filed May 9, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,2 HOE/MANN WEP/VEP //vz/ roe Patented Jan. 2, 1951 ROTARY EXTRACTOR.

Werner K. Hofmann, Bloomington, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 9, 1947, Serial No. 747,115

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an apparatus for the extraction of liquids such as juice and rind oils from whole fruits and is particularly useful in the extraction of such liquids from citrus fruit.

In a co-pending application, Serial No. 544,424, of Wilbur A. Pipkin, an extraction apparatus having this general purpose is disclosed.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved extraction apparatus employing the same basic principles as the apparatus disclosed in the said co-pending application.

Another object is to provide a Pipkin type extractor having an improved means for removing the fruit carcasses from the compression cups following the extraction step.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects as well as further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention partly broken away to illustrate the construction thereof, and shows fruit being fed into successive lower compression cups of the extraction apparatus and the ejection ofthe rind carcass of one of the pieces of fruit at the conclusion of the juice and peel oil extraction operation. r

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and shows the juice outlet of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the apparatus of the invention at the instant a piece of citrus fruit is fed downwardly into the lower of two compression cups which subsequent- 1y cooperate in extracting juice and peel oil from this piece of fruit.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the peel oil finisher taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a development at a reduced scale of the extraction unit operating cam of the invention. 1

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the gear connection between the extraction apparatus rotor and the individual fruit feed mecha nism.

Fig. '7 is a view of the single extraction unit disclosed in Fig. 3 and at a slightly later point in the cycle of operation thereof in which the upper cup has descended to the point where the ejector assembly has just come to rest in its lowermost position and the upper cup is about to .continue downward through the upp st per 2 and into cooperative fruit compressing relation with the lower cup.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 and shows the upper cup of said compression unit in its lowermost position in which it cooperates with the lower cup to confine and constrict said citrus fruit so as to extract the juice and rind oil therefrom;

. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and illustrates said extraction unit at a still' later point in the operation thereof following the raising ofthe upper cup of said unit and the lifting of said ejector assembly by said cup whereby the radial picks of the lower stripper raise the carcass of the fruit left in the bottom of the lower cup following said extraction operation, to a level Where it is in alignment with a sweep-off blade by which the carcass is deflected out 'of the machine.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a lower portion of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary enlargement to the same scale of an upper portion "of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatical perspectivevlew of a lower cup of an extraction unit of the invention with the carcass stripper halfway between its uppermost and lowermost positions to show how the radial picks of the stripper extend inwardly through the slots between adjacent fingers of this cup. j

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical vertical sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 1 with the stripper omitted for the purpose of illustrating the structure of one-of the lower compression cups of the invention. a.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatical front elevational View of one of the fruit compression units of the invention approximately, of the same scale as Fig. 9 and with theparts thereof similarly positioned, i. e.: with the upper cup and the ejector assembly in their uppermost positions.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line I 5|5 of Fig... 8 to illustrate the construction ofthe cross head on which the uppercup is-mounted and the ejector lifting plate provided on said cross head.

Referring specifically vto thedrawings, the invention is there illustrated as embodied in a juice and peel oil extractor. 2D. The feed side of. this extractor is shown inxvertical section in Figs. 2,3.

base has a lower outer wall-23. from'wh'ic h an a nular horizontal wall 2 4 extends inwardly conical wall 25 rising from the inner edge thereof to a base rim 26, the latter being provided near the outer edge thereof, with an annular oil retaining flange 21. The portion of the wall 23 which extends above the wall 24 and an annular wall 28 unite to form an annular juice trough 29 and an annular-oil. trough 30..

A port 32. in theF-wall123 provides antoutlet-for; oil from the trough 30 and a pipe 33 connecting with a passage 36 provided in a boss 31, cast in.- tegral with the walls 23 and 24 (see Fig. 2), provides an outlet from the juice trough 25.

The wall 28 is provided with. an annular sheet metal extension sleeve 38 whichis gfri'ctionally held in place by springs 39! for the-zpurpose. of. extending the wall 28 upwardly during the operation of the extractor 20 while permitting the sleeve 38 to be slipped downwardly outside ofthe wall 28 to give access to the trough 29 for cleaning purposes when the machine is stopped.

Shpportedboncentrically 'on' the base rim-126 and secured theretoas by cap screws' liliisa hollow column :41. '(FigspS and 10). This column has a heavyjjournal '42: at itsloweredgewhich is spaced inwardly "from the flange 21" 'to provide an. annular oiltrap43, this trap being vented to thelinterior' of the" hollow base'22":by vent" holes" 44.. P'ro'vided on the" upper end of'thecolumnfll isa ri'm 45 in which. is mounted a heavy ballbearing 48. "Supported on the rims45;and secured thereto as: by: cap: screws 41' is a cam supporting cap50. "This. cap has annular walls l' and 152", extending'downwardly' therefrom, and;,the-per iphery ofthe cap bells downwardlyto form a-skirt'53.

Mounted; ontop of the" cap .5015 a *drive motor 54'" which isggearedl to a. pinion 55' (Fig. l) which extends vertically'down within thecap. Thecap 50 also supports a switch "56' forcontrollingthe motorv 54 and a lubricating pump 51, by which the extractortZlIis oillubricated.

Fixed by cap screws 753' to the lower edgeiiof the ,wall52 of the. cap'5U1 is an annularcamsupport65 on-whibh'. an. annular channel cam 65 is fixed. 'A.development ofthis cam,v seen fromthe inside, is illustrated in Fig. .5'.

'Rotatably. mounted on the column 4 ITiSLa rotor which is also preferably cast in one pieceout of aluminum. This rotor has a hub. H which rests upon thebearing 45' and; supports the rotor. A. disk. It. connects the" hub with a. .vertical 'annul'ar wal113.

'Thelowerend' of the wall "13 connectsthrou'gh .a narrow horizontal wall 14 with .anannuiarwall 15.01? slightly, less diameter, the latter being connected through a disk 19. with a hub' 1?, having pressedtherein a bearing. bushing '18. 'This bushing' bearsagai'nst the jo'urnal342. and has an annular'groove' HI-which fits over the base flangeZl. Thusany oil escaping downwardlybetweenthe bushingjTS and! the journal 42. collects in the bottom of. the oil .trap 43 and escapes therefrom throughsthe vent holes 44. The admission of lubricating oil into the juice'troughn29 is thereby prevented.

. Formed. integral with andexten'ding outwardly fromthe-lower. edge of the walli iaan annular platform .80, the under surface of which. is Provided, withan annular boss 8L. The'boss 81 .is

:providedxwith 24 circumferentially and equally 'spaced holes82. The platform Bfihas theisame numberof smaller and similarly spaced holes 53 'WFlll the wall "has blind holes 84-whi'chtare in alignmentrespectively with the holes -8 2.

fplatformflfl ofthe rotor 19' are strengthenedand 4 united into a rigid assembly by circumferentially spaced radial ribs 85, 86 and 81.

Mounted on the rotor 15 is a series of 24 extraction units 90 (Figs. 3 and 14) As these units are identical in construction, a description of one will sufiice for all. Each of these units includes -a lower compression cup 91., an upper compression cupi92', a carcass ejecting or: stripping mechanism 93, and an operating mechanism 94. The latter mechanism functions to reciprocate the upper cup 92 relative to the lower cup 9| to en- :velopandrcompress a whole citrus fruit between the cups. soas to extract the juice and rind oil .separately-fromthisfruit. It also functions to reciprocate the ejector 93 so as to strip the fruit carcass resulting from said compression from 'botheups' 9 band 92 to facilitate the discharge of theca-rcass from the extractor 20.

The lower cup 9| has a tubular body 95 with whicha series of 25 fingers 96 are, cast integral so as;to extend-radially outwardly fromsaid body (Eig.113). Body 95 'hasa threaded bore 91 and a. smooth counterbore-98l 'A knife tube 99-which is externallythreaded at its upper end to screw into the bore 91, isprovided" with "an upwardly extending short circular knife N10. 'The knife I09 has a bore llfflwhich is; relatively'shortand somewhat .smaller than'the interior diameter of the tube 99 for a reason-whichwill be made clearhereinafter.

The unthreaded portion of the tube-99 snugly fits: the unthreadedcounter-bore 98of the cup body 95 and extends downwardly therefrom through a hole H l'formed ina large geartooth H2, the lower end of :said-holebeing bevelledto receive a. rubber packingring H3. The tube 99ithen extends downwardly throughone of the holes 8| oftherotor and is externally-threaded at its l'owerend' to receive arelati-vely long tubular nut H4 which tightens against a. gasket H5 andithus-rigidly fixes the cup -9l' on the-rotor platform '80. The gear tooth H2 is properly oriented by pin HE- (Fig. 12) which passes through thistooth and into a suitable hole provided" therefore in theplatform -so that this tooth will be, properly related to the other identicalteeth'of the "other-units to constitutea driving gear for the feeder of the extractor 20 as will be made clear hereinafter.

The ejector 93, of the "unit 90 being described, is mounted on,a fixed shaft HT, the upperend of whichifits into one of the ,blind holes 84 and the lower endof which'is of reduced diameter, is threaded and extends downwardly through the corresponding hole 83. Screwed onto the lowerthreadedend of the shaft H1 and then turned down against the platformfillto support this shaft in. place, is a nut H8, the upper face of which is hollowed out to receive .a rubber cushion I [9. Tightenedupon the lower end of the shaft H1 againsta gasket l20,,is.a cap nut [2| which acts as a lock nut to preventthe unscrewing of the nut H8 and formsfan effective liquid -seal :about "theushaft l l1 where this passes through the, hole 83..

Slideableverticallyon the shaft, I. I Lisa tubular ejector body I22 having a bore I30 which-is counter-bored toreceivebushings ['3 I :andithen furthercounter-bored in an upper. portion thereof to receivea coil spring ['32, the upper end of which bears-against and holds a rubber cushion ring ['33 inplace against the Wall14. The upper end of the'tubular body 122 is-threadedand has screwed thereon a split-nut I34 which-sis fixed against rotation by tightening a bolt I35 with which this is provided.

Surrounding the tube I22 just beneath the nut I34 is a rubber cushion ring I36 which retains itself in this position by contracting on the tube I22. Rigidly applied to the tube I22 are split clamps I31 of lower and upper strippers I40 and MI. These strippers are identical and preferably dye cast from the same mold so a description of one will sufiice for both.

Stripper I40, for instance, comprises a horizontal plate I42 which is secured to its clamp I31 by cap screws I43. The plate I42 has such a pattern removed therefrom vertically clear through said plate so as to provide an annular series of slots I44 unitin with a central open space and leaving a series of radial inwardly projecting picks I45. The slots I44 and picks I45 are so located and formed that the plate I42 is adapted to freely slide upwardly or downwardly over the lower cup 9I. The slots I44 thus snugly receiving the cup fingers 96 while the picks I45 are snugly received in the slots between the fingers The plate I 42 surrounding the circle in which the slots I44 are formed is reinforced by a ring I46 from which the picks I45 extend inwardly, and an attachment lug I 41 where the plate I42 attaches to the split clamp I31. The upper face I48 of the plate I42, however, is preferably fiat and wedge-shaped so that when the plates I42 of the ejector 93 of adjacent units 90 are on the same level, the adjacent edges of these plates are disposed close to each other and form, in efiect,-a practically continuous fiat horizontal surface.

While the stripper MI is identical withthe stripper I40, it is inverted relative to the latter so that the fiat face I41 of the stripper MI is disposed downwardly.

The operating mechanism 94 (Fig. 11) of the unit 90, being described, includes a rectangular slide bar I55 which is fixed as by cap screws I56 to the outer face of the rotor wall 13. Vertically slideable on this bar is a cross head I51 on the upper end of which is mounted a ball bearing roller I58 which extends into the cam channel track 66 andon the lower portion of which is provided a sprin housing I 59, the head I60 of which has a hole in which is received the upper threaded end of a shaft I9I; this shaft being keyed in place in said hole by a key I62 I65 in which a coil spring I66 is trapped by an expansion jack I61, the latter including an upper male threaded member I 68 and a lower female threaded member I69.

The upper cup 92 has a body I15 and fingers I16, the outer surfaces of which are identical with the outer surface of the body 95 and the fingers 96 of the lower cup 9i, and, in manufacturing, these two cups are initially cast from the same mold. After being cast, however, the body I15 is finished by machining differently than the body 95 of the lower cup. Thus, the body I15 (Fig. 11) is provided with two bores I11 and I18 which are joined by a hole adapted to receive a cap screw I19, the head of the latter fitting into the bore I18 so as to be flush with the bottom of the cup 92. The bore I 11 has a counter-bore I80 into which the lower endof "the female member I69 fits while the shaft I6I extends downwardly beyond the lower end of said member and into the bore I11 in which it is held by the screw I19 screwing into a tapped hole in the lower end of this shaft. The pressure of the expansive force of the spring I66 tending to hold the shaft I6I downwardly (with the nuts I62 against the head I60) is applied between said head and the shaft through a split ring I8I which extends into a suitable channel turned in the shaft I6I and is trapped therein by being enclosed in an annular recess formed in the lower end of the female member I69.

, The screw E19 is locked against accidentalremoval (by a set screw 582 extending; inwardly through the cup body I 15 and shaft I6i into contact with an upper end portion of said screw.

Fixed on the lower end of the screw head I51 by cap screws N33 is an ejector lifting plate I84 which is in the form of a fork which straddles the tubular ejector body I22 and when the cross head N31 is lifted in raising the upper cup 92 following the compression operation, the fork I84 engages the rubber cushion ring- I36 to lift the ejector 93 to cause the latter to function in a manner which shall be made clear hereinafter.

The extracto 20 has a sheet metal housing wall I which is formed in sections so as to be readily removable and which covers the space between the lower edge of the skirt 53 of the cap 50 and the upper edge of the outer base wall 23. The housing I90 has a feeder opening I 9! formed therein and an opening 92 for the accommodation of a feeder drive gear to be described hereinafter. V v

In order to keep the pulp from accumulating in the juice trough 29, one or more of the units 90 is provided-with a plough L93 which is made of sheet metal bent to provide an attaching plate I94 having a hole therein so that this will slip over the lower end of the cutter tube 99 of that unit and be secured in place by having the nut H4 tightened thereagainst as shown in Fig. 14.

A similar plough i95 is provided to operate in the oil trough 30, this plough being fixed on the lowe end of a plate 466 which is secured to the outer edge of the rotor platform 86 as by cap screws I91 (see Fig. 10).

Fixed on the inside of the upper edge portion of the rotor wall 19 is an internal ring gear I98 with which the drive pinion 55 of the motor 54 meshes so that when this motor is energized the rotor 19 is rotated by this motor.

The extractor 29 has an individual fruit feeder 206 which is supported on a pair of brackets 20! secured as by cap screws 202 to a flattened portion of the vertical wall 23 of the extractor base 22 (Figs. 3 and 10). Resting on and secured to the brackets 29I is a feeder transmission casing 203 having a horizontal bottom bearing wall 204 in which are provided bearings 205 and 295. Wall 294 is apertured concentrically with the bearing 205 and provides an oil retaining flange 291 which extends upwardly from said wall and encircles said bearing. An upper casing wall 208 carries cap plates 299 and 2 I 9 which provides respectively bearings 2H and 222. The plate 2I0 is apertured concentrically with the bearing 2I2 2I8 rising upwardly from the periphery of the I floor. The floor 2 I1 extends inwardly through the housing opening I9I and has a fruit disside wall 2I8 terminate at the housing; opening 19!. The free ends of the wall ZIB are connected :dium or small sizes.

7 together: by -a bafiie -wali 225-whichi is secured to the wall 2 I 8 .byi'wingtnut bolts 22 l which extend outwardly-through vertical slotsi'222 'in the wall 218' soaias to permit vertical adjustment oiflthe baffle wall226 relative to the wall 218. The baflie wall 22U iscurved at its end but is substantially straight otherwise so that it is disposed considerably-closer-tothe center of the hopper 2 Gthan the circularwall 2 I 8.

It is to :be noted that-when the extraction units 900x1 the roto H1 are disposed opposite the feeder 266 the upper cups 62 are retracted upwardly in spaced relation with the lower cups 9i of said unit. 'Secured to and extending from one of the free'edges of the circular hopper wall 228, so as to extend in the same direction as that in which the rotor i rotates, is a guide tongue 223 which is formed of sheet metal, the free end portion of this being bent conversely sons to be concentric with-the axis of the rotor-i9. wall 218 and tongue 223 is a sheet metal bracket 224cm which isadj-usta-bly fixed'a carcass scoop 225, the lower edge of which may be fitted with a shear blade (Figs. 1 ands). The scoop 225also has a lip 22'! for guiding fruit carcasses outwardly from over a stripper hi0 during the operation of the extractor 26.

Secured onto the transmission casing 263 and disposed just beneath this, is a rind oil collecting pan 228 which is formed of sheet metal and has an apera-ture' 22am the bottom thereof concentric with the bearing 225.

-Mounted on the flattened extractor base wall (Ed-between the feeder supporting brackets 25E is arind oi-l finisher 235. cylindrical box 236 having a pul discharge chute 2Z3? opening horizontally therefrom and an oil funnel I 238 opening downwardly therefrom. Mounted in the mouth of said funnel is a screen 239 which is located below the level of the port 32 in the wall 23 which opens outwardly into the box 236 (see Figs. 3, a and Provided centrally on the screen 239 to extend upwardly therefrom is a pin 250 which forms a handle for said screen whereby the latter may be removed for cleaning. This handle is also located concentrically with bearings 225 and 2H for a reason whichwill be made clear hereinafter.

Mounted in the bearings 266 and 2I2 is a shaft 245. This extends upward above-the casing'263 into the feed hopper 256 and is tapered to have fixed thereon a hub Eficf a feed wheel 22?. This wheel includes a disk-like deck 248 which is removably secured to the hub 243 by cap screws 225 and in turn has removably secured to the periphery thereof an annulus 25G providing a series of pockets 25! comprising recesses which extend vertically through the annulus 250. The pockets 25! are circular and each is adapted to receive a single whole citrus fruit F when this fruit is deposited in bulk in the hopper 215 and deck 248. A number of pieces of fruit are shown resting on this deck in Fig. 1 and certain others where they have rolled from the deck onto the annulus and into certain of the pockets 25! While the pockets 25! in the'preferred embodiment, illustrated, open outwardly from the periphery of the annulus 255, it is to be understood that, while this is preferred in handling fruit of a relatively large diameter, the-vertical recesses in the pockets 25] may be closed and constitute round vertical holes in the annulus where the -latter is formed to handle fruit of relatively mep v Coveringthehub 246. of the 'whe'e1'24-1'isa cap 254.

Secured to the This includes a semi- 1 lMounted on the shaft 2 45 witliin'the'casing'iM is a sprocket 255 which is-connectcd bysanendless chain 256 with a sprocket 25! fixed onrashaft 258 .WhiGh is supported by end? journals in the bearings 225 =and=2lL "The sprocket 251 hass a concentric recess 259 which-rec'eives'the circular oil retaining flange: 201 so that oil placed 'in the casing-203 to lubricate the chain .256 -will:-.not be permitted toszfiow downwardly around the shaft 258.

:"Fixed' on thelowerendof the shaft 258 is a gear wheel "-265 (Figs.-6 and 10) having teeth 266- which extend between and mesh-with the gear teeth H2 provided on the rotor 10 to cause 'thetrotation'of the gear-.ina reversev direction and the transmission of this rotation'through the; shaft 258, chain '256- and shaft 245=-to-the :feeder wheek 247. The transmission between the rotorsand' feed wheel is so designed that-one-of the 'fruit pockets'25l 'is brought betweenand in vertical alignment with the'upper and lower compressionrcups ofeachi of the: extraction units fll as that unit comes opposite the feeder 266.

f Secured to the bottom 'face of'thevhub' of the gear? 2651251357 cap-screws 2'! I and 212- is' a plate 273 on-which is-fixed an eccentric stub shaft- 214. Thelower end of this shaft :is rabbetedzandis unite d with the-correspondingly rabbeted'end of the paddle shaft 215 by a sleeve 216. --Fixed on the lower end of theshaft2=l5 is a paddle-211 having a rubber screenwiping blade'2'i8. The paddle 2711s adapted to rotate'about the pin 240 and center itself" onthis-when it is rotated by the shaft 2T i2!5'revolving with the gear 265.

When thus rotated, the paddle'blade 2 18 constantly sweeps the screen 239,'-freeing oilafrom the pulp deliveredthrough the port 32' onto this screen so that this oil passes through-the screen 239 and drains from the hopper-238 into-econtainer provided to receive the same. As the pulp accumulates, this is automatically crowded through the chute 23'! into a container provided to receive this or onto a'conveyor belt for carrying this away. The same -conveyor"may, of coursepbeused to carry awaythis pulp which conveys off the rind carcasses discharged from thernachinevby the'scoop 225.

Operation The I variations in the diameter -of citrusfruit commonly met with makes it preferablarin-order to operate the present invention with maximum efliciency, to divide .the fruit into two orthree groups of sizes andthen providean extractor. 20 for-handling each of these groupsin which the cups oi the-extractor .units andthe pockets of the feeder are especiallydimensioned so that that extractor will efiiciently handleany sizecf fruit'within the range of sizes embraced by that :particular size group. The extractor 26-=-is designed-to handle medium size fruit.

Before starting operation, the lubricator- 51 is suppliedwith lubricating oil. The-juice-outlet pipe. 33. is connected witha-storage meanshfor the juice. produced, a means -is provided for receivingand storing theipeel oil discharged-downwardly from the funnel 238 of the finisher 235 and, .as previously suggested, a means, such-as a conveyor, is provided for carrying awaypeel oil pulp discharged from-the chute 231 and the carcasses deflected from themachine bythe scoop .225. Also, of course, a supply of fruit of the sizes within the range which this particular extractor .is adapted to handle with maximum efficiency'is provided, withmeans for delivering these by hand orbyma'chine intothehopper' 216 so that there 25I filled with fruit as these travel into feeding position.

The drive motor 54 is now energized, causing the rotor I to be rotated in the direction of :the arrow A in Fig. 1 and the feed wheel 241 .tobe rotated coordinately therewith in the opposite direction so that, as each pocket 25I passes through a plane common to the axes of said rotor and said wheel, this pocket will be in axial alignment with one of the extraction units 90 and disposed between the separated cups 9| and 92 thereof as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 10. The fruit delivered to the hopper 2I6 falls on the rotating deck 248, rolls rapidly into the pockets 25I so that each of these contains a whole fruit as it passes under the baflle 220. Pieces of fruit thus delivered to any of the pockets 25I drop downwardly therein and are supported on the peripheral portion of the floor 2 I1. As one of these pockets travels into axial alignment with one of V the extractor units 90, it moves out over the hole 2I9" in the floor 2II'and,'. as the fruit in that pocket is no longer supported, it drops down into the'lower cup 9| of that unit, as shown in Fig. 3.

As the unit 90 to'which a piece of fruit has thus been delivered rotates with the rotor 10 past the position in which this fruit was received, the

. roller I58 is lowered in following the cam 66 so "that the cross head I51 of this unit is correspondi'rigly lowered; Fig. 7 illustrates such a unit 90 at the moment when the lowering of the roller I58 thereof by the cam 66 has just resulted in the ejector 93 coming to rest on the rubber cushion I I9 at the lower end of the shaft II11 on which that ejector is mounted. The ejector lifting plate I84 continues downwardly moving out of contact with the rubber cushion ring I36 on the ejector 93 as the downward movement of the latter halts.

The upper cup 92 passes down through th stripper IM and, while still guided by this stripper so as to be accurately aligned with the cup 9|, it moves into interdigital relation therewith.

' This presses the whole citrus fruit F, resting in the cup '9I, against the circular knife I00, thereby cutting a button from the rind of the fruit so as to open a passageway for escape of the juice from the interior of the fruit. Almost simul- 1 taneously with this action, the fruit is brought into intimate conformation with the adjacent concave surfaces of the cups 9| and 92 so that the rind of the fruit is uniformly supported by =these cup surfaces over all portions of the rind excepting the area within the circular knife I00.

This support prevents the juice bearing structures inside the rind from bursting outwardly through the rind as a result of the high internal pressure produced by further downward move- .ment of the upper cup 92. a I

The confining of the juice within the rind so that it isexclusively discharged downwardly through the knife tube 99 and tubular nut 4 into the juice storage 29 of the machine, even .although the fruit is reduced to a flattened bissuit-like carcass. with the rind superficially shredded as shown in Fig. 8, when the upper cup .92 reaches its downwardmost position, is .a

strange phenomenon in the operation of extracexcept in the area of the circular cutter I00, at points relatively closely spaced, are the factors peel oil by the use of interdigitating compression cups was originated by Wilbur A. Pipkin and is covered by his co-pending application for U. S. Letters Patent, Ser. No. 544,424, filed July 11, 1944, which issued as Patent Number 2,420,679, dated May 20, 1947.

The button cut from the rind of the fruit F by the circular cutter I00 is discharged into the juice trough 29 and is Washed therefrom by the juice flowing through the juice outlet port 36 (see Fig. 2).

When the upper cup 92 is lifted by the rising of the roller I58 in the cam 66, this cup passes through the stripper MI and if by any chance the rind carcass C produced in the compression operation, justv completed, tends to stick within the cup 92, it is stripped from this by the stripper MI and falls back downwardly into the cup 9|. As the cup 92 rises through the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7 the ejector lifting plate I84 re-engages the cushion ring I36 and thus picks up the ejector 93 and carries this upwardly with the crossvhead I51 of this unit. As the lower stripper I40 travels upwardly with the ejector 93, its picks extending between the fingers away these carcasses and the peel oil pulp discharged from the finisher 235.

As shown in Fig. l, the point where the carcass is thus deflected from the machine is only a short distance from the point where the feeding of a whole fruit to each unit takes place. The cross head I51 is lowered between these two positions so that the lower stripper I40 drops down far enough whereby the lower cup is able to receive the new whole fruit F now fed thereto by the feeder 200 (Figs. 3 and 10).

A complete cycle of operation of one of the extraction units has now been described.

The gaskets H3, H5 and I20 are for the purpose of preventing rind oil, extracted from the peel in the compression operation, from leaking into the juice trough 29 and thus contaminating the juice expressed from the fruit in said operation. It is of the greatest importance not only that a high yield of juice and rind oil be had but that these two ingredients of the fruit be kept separate after their being extracted fromthe fruit.

The present invention uniformly produces exceptionally high yields of juice and rind oil and each derivative liquid is relatively free of contamination by the other.

It is likewise important to prevent contamination of the juice by the lubricating oil necessary to keep the extractor 20 functioning smoothly, and this is accomplished by the oil retaining fiange 21 extending into the annular groove 19 of the bushing I8 so that any oil passing downwhich apparently. make this phenomenon. n s- 15 wardly between the journal 42 and the bushing 19 carried out through thehousing opening 192 by the gear 255- sothat these fumes condense and the condensed oil drips downwardly through the hole flfi into the peel oil finisher 2'35.

Aspointe'd out h'ereinabove, the rind of the "fruit is superficially shredded (Fig. 8) when the fruit is compressed between the upper and lower cups 9| and 92. Fragments of rind are thus sheared from the fruit being "separated from the carcass thereof, and these rindfragme'nts find their way with the rind oil into the rind oil ti-ought?! in which they are kept agitated'b'y the-"plow I95 until they are forced out through "fromtne spirit of the inventi'on 'or the scope of the ap ended-clams The claims are:

1. In combination: arotor; means for rotating said rotor; asenes-ef liquid extracting units on said-rotor, each of-saidunits including a pair of cooperating"-cornp'ression eu'ps; means for causing reciprocatory axial movement of one of the cups of each of said units towardsa-nd away from "the-other cupe fsaid unit as said -rotor turns, to cause-the cupsef'said unit'to enclose and compress a whole citrus fruit to extract a liquid therefrom; ejector means for ejecting the carcass "of a fruit from said cupsa ftersaid compression to permit discharging--saiid carcass out of the machine; and means responsive to the cup of said unit which reciprocatesrelative to the other cu'p thereof; to actuates'a-id carcass ejector.

In combination: a rotor; meansforrotating said rotor; --'a series or liquid extracting units on said rotor, each-of said units includinga pair'of -cooperating com ression cups; each of said cups" having an annular series of fingers separated by slots-so that the fingers of pnecup will interdi-gitate w-ith-the angers (If the other-cup whenthe two are brought axiallytogether; meansiorcausing -re'ciprocatory axial n'i'ovemer'i-tofone of the cu-p's'of each of said-units towards-and away from th'eothe'r cup of saidunit'as- =said rotor turns;- to cause the cups of said unit to come into interdigitating relation and to enclose: and compress a whole ci-trus-fruit to extract a liquid -there-' irom; an ejector for each-unit, said ejector operating within :the slots between theefingersnf the cups of said unit for ejecting from said cups: the carcass of a fruit 7 after its compression between said cups, to permit discharging said carcass :out' of the machine; and means responsive to said movement of the reciprocating cup ofeach of said units to actuate the carcass ejector thereof.

3. A combination as in claim 2, in which said carcass ejector includes an individual ejeetbr for said actor; a series liquid extras-ne units on said actor; each OT saiduints inclfl'eting r fiaii' bf cooperating compression cups, each award-cups having an ahn llar'siis 0f fingers by slots so that e fingers 'of one cup int'erdig itate wit h finger's o'f the 'other eup'When -the two are brought axially together; means-rm causihgreciproca tory 1 xiai movement or-one e": the cups of each of "saidnnits'towardsa d away tram theother cup of said unit as said -roterturns, toca'usethe cups of-said unit to come-into interdigitating relation-and-t'o encloseand compress a whole citrus fruit toextracta liquid therefrom;

anejector' means-for each-of'said u ts iorejec-tin'g 'fromtheeups thereof the carcassoia fruit following compression oi the fatter -;b 'etween {said cups; 'sai'dineansincluding-an individual stripper foreach' of said ee s; 'e'a'ch'of said sti-ippers -having picks-extending into the slots {between-{the fingers of said cups; said strippers -b'e'in'g united in rigidspaced relation; means-mountingthestrippers'of each unit for sliding axial moveinent 'relative tothecupsitlriiereof; and means "fer actuating saideject'or meanscoordinately'with'th'e axial inoVe'rnentoi saidrecip'rocating cup of said imit to perform'a stri ping action successiveiynntnrespent to the two cups of "'saidj'unit tostrip the fruit'earcas's from both "(if saidc'up's following each com ression operation by s'aid cups and prior to the beginning oi the ma "compression o'p'eratioh.

"5; 1n combination: a rotor; means .for rotatin said rotors; "a series of. linuidextraetingunits on Said 106613, 'a ch bf saidunits 'ihclildi'h'g "a pair of cooperating compressibn eups, each of saideups having an alliriularsfisroflfihgis separated by slots so that thefingers of one -cup;w i'1l 'in'terdi'gi- :tate with the lingers of the other cupw when the two are brought axially together; means for causing reciprocatoryi axial movement .of one of the cups of each of said units towards and away=fr0m the other. cup o'f said unit as said arotor turns, to causethe cupsnf said unitsto come into interdig'itating relationand-jto enclose and compressa whole citrus *frui't'to extract ailiquid therefrom; and an ejector'for each of saidunits for ejecting from the lower-cup, thereofrthe carcass of a fruit following compression of the latter between said I cups, said means for'reciprocating one of said cups relative to the other also causing relative axial movement between said lower cup and said ejector tovaccomplish said ejection of said carcass, said ejectori comprising astripper plate with a flat upper surface, the-outer portion-of which surrounds: said. cup and is vprovided with picks extending inwardly in the plane of said plate through the slots of said lower cup, the upper surface of said plate rising-above the upper ends of the fingers of -said lower cup "when in carcasssejecting position. v

' 6. lncombina-tionza rotor; means-error rotating said rotor; ,a series of liquid extracting units on said rotor, each of saidflumtsaincludingi a pair of cooperating compression cups; 'eaclrof said g'cupshaving anuannular-s-series offingers when and to encl'ose and compress s wnole fruit to extract a liquid therefrom; an ejector for each of said units for ejecting from the lower cup thereof the carcass of a fruit following compression of the latter between said cups, said means for reciprocating one of said cups relative to the other also causin relative axial movement between said lower cup and said ejector to accomplish said ejection of said carcass, said ejector comprising a plate with a fiat upper surface, the outer portion of which surrounds said cup and is provided with picks extending inwardly in the plane of said plate through the slots of said lower cup, the upper surface of said plate rising above the upper ends of the fingers of said lower cup when in carcass ejecting position; and a stationary scoop extending into the space between the cups of each of said units, at the time when the ejector thereof is in ejecting position, and downward close to the level of the upper surface of said ejector at said time, said scoop being adapted to intercept and deflect from the machine the fruit carcass resting on top of the ejector of each unit as said ejector passes under said scoop.

7. In combination: a rotor; means for rotating sa d rotor; a series of liquid extracting units on said rotor, each of said units including a pair of cooperating compression cups, each of said cups having an annular series of fingers separated by slots so that the fingers of one cup will interdigitate with the fingers of the other cup when the two are brought axially together; means for causing reciprocatory axial movement of one of the cups of each of said units towards and away from the other cup of said unit as said rotor turns, for the purpose of causing the cups of said units to come into interdigitating relation and to enclose and compress a whole citrus fruit to extract a liquid therefrom; and means extend ng into the slots in said cups of each of said units for ejecting the fruit carcass from said cups, said ejecting means guiding the reciprocating cup of said unit to align it for readily enterin interdigital relation with the other cup of said unit.

8. In combination: a rotor; means for rotating said rotor; a series of liquid extracting units on said rotor, each of said units includ ng a pair of cooperating com ression cups, each of said cups having an annular series of fingers separated by slots so that the fingers of one cup will interdi itate with the fingers of the other cup when the two are brought axially together; means for causing reciprocatory axialmovement of one of the cups of each of said un ts towards and away from the other cup of said unit as said rotor turns, for the pur ose of causin the cups of said unit to come into interdigitating re ation and to enclose and com ress a whole citrus fruit to extract a liquid therefrom; and a carcass eiector for each of said units, sa d ejector having a stripper for each of the cu s of said unit with picks extending with close fit between the fin ers of said cups, and having means rigidly uniting said strippers in true axial relation whereby said eiector guides the reciprocating cup of said unit to maintain it approximately in axial ali nment with the other cup of said unit and rotationally indexed to be ready to enter in interdigital relation with said other cup.

9. A combination as in claim 8 having means maintaining the picks of both of said strippers always in meshin relation with the fingers of both of said cups while said cups are out of interdigital relation.

10. A combination as in claim 8 having means for guiding said ejector for movement parallel with the axis on which said cups meet in interdigitating relation; and means responsive to movement of said reciprocating cup for shifting said ejector on its guide means to cause said ejector to successively strip said carcass from said reciprocating cup and then strip said carcass from the other cup of said unit.

11. In combination: a rotor; means for rotating said rotor; a series of units circumferentially arranged on said rotor, each of said units including a pair of cooperating compression cups for extracting liquid from a whole citrus fruit;

means for closing and opening the cups of each of said units relative to each other to enclose and compress a whole citrus fruit to extract liquid therefrom; means for stripping the carcass of a whole fruit after compression from said cups into a position between said cups with the latter separated following said compression; and a stationary member for engaging each such carcass as it is thus positioned, said member being inclined to deflect said carcass from the machine without assistance.

12. In comb nation: a rotor; means for mounting and rotating said rotor on a vertical axis; a series of extraction units on said rotor, each of said units including a lower cup fixed on said rotor on a vertical axis; an upper cup slideably mounted on said rotor co-axially with said lower cup, each of said cups having an annular series of fingers separated by slots so that the fingers of one cup will interdigitate with the fingers of the other cup when the two are brought axially to eth r; cam means responsive to the rotation of said rotor to reciprocate the upper cup of each of said units downwardly into interdi ital relation with the lower cup of said unit to enclose and com ress a whole citrus fruit for the extraction of liquid therefrom: an eiector for each of said units having a stripper for each of the cups thereof, the stripper for each cup having picks extending between the fin ers of said cup, and means ri idly uniting said strinners spaced in co-axial relation; means for guiding the ejector of each unit for sliding movement parallel with the axis of interdig tation of said unit and means carried by said upper cup of each unit for shifting said ejector so that the strippers thereof travel co-axially with said cups and maintain said cups in proper rotat onal re- REFERENCES CITED The fol owing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Pipkin May 20, 1947 Num er 

